Who said Henry Simmons was "in the same league" with Dennis Franz???? All I said was that in the interrogations, he's good. He's very intimidating and can get what they need out of a suspect. I made no mention of him being, as an actor, on par with Franz. That would be incorrect.
I liked the tormented Sorenson too, but didn't like how they left things unersolved with him. I attribute a lot of that to head writer David Milch leaving the show and the other writers 'losing their way' for a while.
Charlotte Ross was very good on the show, and it sucks not having her on there. The problem was with her marrying Andy and becoming a mother, they'd painted her character into a corner that would've been difficult to come out of.
I do agree that it is a great drama, but not the best ever. It's not even Bochco's best ever, as that distinction has to go to my all-time favorite TV show, the one that laid the groundwork for many shows that followed (including Blue): Hill Street Blues. It redefined TV dramas.